Title
Receive a report on Sheriff’s Office
a. Support the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office acceptance of $4,498,009 from the State of California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program; and
b. Support an increase in appropriations of the Sheriff’s Office Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 Adopted Budget 1001-230005 by $1,000,000 financed by the State of California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program; and
c. Support the Auditor-Controller amending the Sheriff’s Office Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 Adopted Budget 1001-230005 by $1,000,000 financed by the State of California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Budget Committee:
a. Support the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office acceptance of $4,498,009 from the State of California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program; and
b. Support an increase in appropriations of the Sheriff’s Office Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 Adopted Budget 1001-230005 by $1,000,000 financed by the State of California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program; and
c. Support the Auditor-Controller amending the Sheriff’s Office Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 Adopted Budget 1001-230005 by $1,000,000 financed by the State of California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program.
SUMMARY:
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office was notified on August 19, 2026 that we were the recipient of BCSS Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program, retroactive to July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2031. Proposition 64 Cohort 4 funding is to help strengthen the County Sheriff’s Office’s ability to combat illicit cannabis activity. This grant is part of $277 million awarded statewide, to address the public safety impacts associated with cannabis legalization.
DISCUSSION:
The Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program provides funding to reduce illegal cannabis cultivation and improve community safety. The funding will support enforcement efforts throughout Monterey County, targeting illegal cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and retail operations. The need is particularly important because illicit operators operate outside the state’s regulated cannabis system, creating public-safety and consumer-safety concerns while undermining licensed businesses that must comply with testing, regulatory, and tax requirements. Monterey County has previously found significant safety concerns in seized illicit cannabis, including contamination in samples tested by the County.
The money is needed to give local law enforcement the personnel, services, equipment, and operational capacity necessary to conduct coordinated investigations and enforcement operations that the County could not otherwise sustain at the same level with existing resources. The grant agreement runs from July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2031, with the primary five-year project period extending through June 30, 2031.
Ultimately, the purpose of the award is to protect Monterey County communities, consumers, and the legitimate cannabis market by disrupting illegal cannabis businesses and reducing the public-health, environmental, and public-safety harms associated with unregulated cannabis activity. California has specifically prioritized Proposition 64 Cohort 4 applications that include illicit cannabis enforcement."
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT/COMMITTEE ACTIONS:
County Counsel has reviewed the agreement as to legal form. The County Administrator’s Office supports this agreement.
FINANCING:
The Sheriff’s Office is asking support from the Budget Committee to increase appropriations and estimated revenues of the Adopted Budget for FY 2026-27, 1001-230005 in the amount of $1,000,000, financed by $4,498,009 from the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program. Future year amounts will be included in the development of the budget.
Prepared by: Arthur Curtright, MA III, Ex#3708
Reviewed by: Eric Bixler, Chief Deputy, Ext#3754
Reviewed by: Keith Boyd, Undersheriff, Ext#3859
Approved by: Tina M. Nieto, Sheriff/Coroner, Ext #3750
Attachments:
BSCC Prop 64 Grant Agreement
Resolution